Process for making asphaltic products



y 1929. L. KIRSCHBRAUN I 1, 69

PROESS FORYMAKING ASPHALTIC PRODUCTS Filed Jan. 27, 1923 [m wfiow' Les fer K/Kiflhbra W].

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Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES "1,715,069 PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER'KIRSCHBRAUN, OF CHICAGO,'ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK L.

BELKNAP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROCESS FOR MAKING ASPHALTIC PRODUCTS.

Application filed January 27, 1923. Serial No. 615,237.

to the present invention, a petroleum residuum such as that produced by the distillation of asphalt bearing oil is intrpduced to the system through the line 1. It may be desirable to preheat this residuum substahce before introducing it to the system in order that it may be readily pumped. In the charging line is connected a line 2 through which air is added, the quantities being carefully regulated by means of the valve 3. The oil mixed with the air is directed to and 'through the heating coil 4 mounted in the furnace 5 which is preferably heated by means of gas burners By introducing petroleum and air in th1s manner, an intimate mixture is effectedwhereby a more complete and rapid reaction is produced as the oil traverses through the heating zone. The relative proportions of the air and oil must be carefully regulated in order to vary the consistency and other characteristics of the finished product. In other words, the larger the amount of air introduced the more rapidly I i will the material harden and the shorter the time required to produce a given end product. The amount of air will be varied depending upon the character of oil treated and the intimacy of contact between air and re-' 'siduum which is effected by the particular apparatus used.

- In addition to the varying control which" may be had during operation, the process is novel in' that it permits continuous treatment of the oil to produce an asphaltic body.

The purpose of introducing air is to modify by oxidation, the character of the resulting prpduct. Thus, in the apparatus shown, there may be continuously produced air blown asphalt. The .relatively long travel through the coil, and the manner in which the air is injected, permits the latter to become intimately associated with the oil, and per- I, controlling the liquid which is introduced by mits a more rapid oxidizing, reaction to take place due to the fact that the air is present Withthe residuum under high temperatures over a'longer period of time than is usual when the air is bubbled through abatch of material in the making of commercial air blown asphalt by processes heretofore employed. The result is a more complete and eliective utilization of the'oxygen of the air. The coil 4 may consist of a continuous coil of thfee or four inch pipe, say from 600 to 800 feet long. It is understood of course, that these dimensions are illustrative merely of a suitable apparatus, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The coil 4 is connected by a transfer pipe 7 to pipes 8 and 9 terminating in spray pipes 10 and 11 respectively, positioned near the bottom and top o-fthe enlarged control chamber 12. This control chamber is equipped with a drawoii line 13 controlled by a valve 14, and with trycocks 15 for ascertaining the level of the liquid inthe chamber. Valves 16 and 17 are positioned in the lines 8 and 9 respectively, for

the separatespray pipes. The function of the spray pipes 10 is to agitate the liquid with the air in the chamber-12 to complete the reaction. The branch 9 of the pipe 7 is employed when it is desired to introduce all or; part of the incoming material from the 0011 4 to the chamber 12 above theliquid level in the chamber so that the air may act upon'the oil while the latter is exposed in the form of a spray or in minute droplets. 'The vapors (if any) released from the body of liquid in the chamber 12 rise through the pipe 17 regulated by the valve 18 and are introduced to a second chamber 19 which has a water or steam spray 20 positioned in its upper por- 9. tion for treating the vapors passing over through the line 17 After treatment in-the chamber 19, the gases pass ofi' through the line 21 controlled by the valve 22 and may be collected in storage tanks not shown.

The chamber 19 is equipped with a liquid drawoff line 23 controlled bya valve 24 for withdrawing the water and anycondensed products which may be separated therein. The air treated asphalt is withdrawn either continuously or intermittently as desired. from the chamber-'12 through the drawoflf line 13.

Where air is used in this manner, the temperatureofithe air and-residu'umwill grad ually rise.in their passage through the heating stage. Such oils as fluid residuum having Baum gravity from 10 to 18 have the proper characteristics to be treated in a process such as that described. That is, asphalt bearing oils which have been distilled to the gravity before mentioned, will have been freed from the more volatile constituents and will contain the desired concentration of asphalt constituents. The temperature in the hea ing tube will range from 400 to 650 'F. Pressure may be maintained upon the system by regulation of the'valves to retain the generated vapors so that the desired pressure is imposed. Pressures ranging from 2 pounds to 300 pounds will accelerate the reaction. These temperatures and pressures willvary with the oil treated, and the product desired.

In the process the oxygen from the air is taken up progressively as it advances through the zone of increasing temperature in the heating stage and control chamber. When the oil has acquired its highest temperature," the content of the air has been so exhausted that the danger of explosion has been diminished. It is essential therefore, to control thaamount of air relative to the temperature and rate of inflow of the residuum so that the process can-be operated without danger. The effect of pressure upon the combined air and oil while traversing the zone of increasing temperature with more or less rolonged contact, is to accelerate the rate oi reaction.

Q If desired, the heat of the finished product may be utilized to preheat the incoming charging stock.

In the production of an air blown product of this character, wide variations of temperature are permissible. As suggested, temperatures from 400 to 650 F. may be utilized. By treating the asphalt, or semi-asphaltic products by means of this process in the man- I ufacture of air blow asphalt, it is possible to produce without difficulty, products having a wide range. of melting points. Also, it is possible to produce a very high melting point asphalt having the characteristics of mineral rubber having a meltingpointof 400 F or more. V

This latter product will be more readily made if produced from residuum of an asphaltic base nature. If desired, a slight amount of steam may be introduced with the air whereby it is possible to readily vary the penetration with reference to any given melting point, that is, by producing greater or less evaporation of the volatilegconstituents of the petroleum residuum while undergoing oxidation, the melting point of the products with reference to its consistency maythereby be readily varied. 1

The residuum can be introduced with the airif desired in such a manner as to atomize the 'raw material into a fine spray. It is to -to said bulk supply, while subjecting the latter to a sustained agitation, and withdrawing t-llie liquid end product from said bulk supp A process of making oxidized asphalt comprising passing petroleum residuum through a long confined path of relatively narrow cross section, introducing air into said path so-as to effect intimate contact between the air and the residuum travelling in said path, gradually elevating the temperature of the residuum and air while they are passing in intimate contact through said path, maintaining a bulk supply of the oxidized end product, continuously passing admixed air and residuum from said path to said bulk supply while subjecting the latter to a sustained agitation, and withdrawing liquid oxidized asphalt from said bulk supply.

d. A comprising admixing petroleum residuum With air, passing the mlxture through a long path wherein the air and residuum may intimately contact with each other, gradually process of making oxidized asphalt raising the temperature of the mixture durin its travel through said path, maintaining a ulk supply of the oxidized end product, continuously passing the heated mixture from said path to said bulk supply while subjecting the latter to agitation, and withdrawing liquid oxidized asphalt from said bulk supply.

4. A process of making oxidized asphalt comprising passing petroleumv residuum through along confined path of relatively narrow'cross section, introducing air into the residuum travelling in said path so as to effect intimate contact between theresiduum and the air, gradually raising the temperature of the mixture during its travel through said path, maintaining a bulk supply of the oxidized end product, continuously passing admixed air and residuum from saidpath to "said bulk supply while subjecting the -latter to sustained agitation, regulating therelative quantities of residuum and air introduced into said path whereby to control the ,character of the end product, and withdrawing liquid end product from said bulk supply.

, LESTER KrnseHBRAUN. 

